The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-09-08
GOLDEN LOCKS.


"well. Pierre. hoe goes the sorld viii
y4u nowsaaysy" said General Casile.on Y
the village har-dresser.
About as usual. Mr.. Gerald. And hos
Is the squire aud my LADY,"
eThey we're all well last week. Blythe
by, have sn order from Miss Ansifnthel
for you. She Is TO give isblesu party
next week. aud as her young lady iriend'
are most Of the brunette type, abe neau'
70 tr.nsform some Of them. by your help,
into blondes"
"All right" was the cbeery answer,
"I'll do my best 10 please But here
comes 3 bead Of hair for you;' and Pierre
made a gesture 10 call the young mans
alieation TO Girl Of perhaps. twelve
years Of age, who was just entering.
"jood morning. little one, be continued,
with friendly nod; but what is the
mstterf" for . glance at her face showed
she bad been crying.
"oh. Mr. Duvsi, my mother IL sick.
and the doctor says she must have three
kinds OF medicine, and beef tea, and lots
OF things. aud We have no money TO buy
them. II seemed TO me as though my
heart would break as / heard What be
said. Then ] thought Of my balr. For a
man came along once and told mother that
he would give her. OBJ such lot Of money
for ii. You will buy it, won't Your and
the childish voice had pIaiptiye quiyer
iu 1t which went straight to the hearts Of
the two listeners
Pierre Duvan was fully sensible OF the
great value Of the silk locks, which hung
like a tawny. goldheckei mantle almost to
to the girls feet, Bnt he put away the
temptation, aud said:
II must not rob the poor mother OF
treasure she sets such store by, child; she
would never forgive me-
Then she will die. aud they will put
her In the cold grave, just as they did my
father"
LET us see IL you and can't make
bar 20 n" said Gerald, smilingly. II will
give you q purse. filled with sovereigns,
and in return, every single hair on your
head will belong to mo. Is that fair"
"Yes. said the girl TREMENDOUSLY.
Then Gerald took pair OF shears, aud
hitting one long curl, severed it from its
mates and coiled it into a shining ring
Then he drew out his pocket book aud
placed bis treasure within it as he said TO
the wondering girl:
Il only want a sample OF my property,
so as to be sure OF the color Now, re
mem Der. your hair is no longer your own
it is mine. Take very good care of it. .
With q parting nod to Pierre, aud an
injunction not TO fail 10 execute his cous
ms order. he went his way, after slipping
a nettsd silken purse filled with gold into
Ginevra's hand.
"ile's just the same as ever, murmured
Pierre. when q mite Of fellow, il he
saw beggar, he wasn't satisfied until he
had emptied his pockets for him. Bless
his kind hesrtl" Then he turned toward
the girl. 1T is oil right, be said kindly |
"Mr. Gerald has more money than he
knows what to do with. | am glad he
happened to be here. Run home and tell
your mother to make haste and get well,
for the money the young master has given
you will buy all she'll need for some time
10 come"
"The gentleman did not give it to me,
said the child. HE paid it to me for my
hair"
The sir OF unconscious dignity with
which she corrected Pierre's mistake
amused him greatly.
"She's born lady," he thought to him
self. Then he said aloud. "You are right.
It was fair bargain. Tell your mother so.
The next week Gerald left the city for
his fathers place, aud in few
for several years. All remembrance OF the
little episode would have faded away, but
for the curl OF which he had possessed
himself 1t had fashion Of occasionally
turning up as he ransacked amid his old
papers, and then he would wonder what
had become OF the pretty child whose
sorrowful appeal had so interested him
At last he was home again. Many changes
had taken place during bis absence. His
favorite cousin, Blanche Anstruther, had
and left Briarlie. which bad been
her home since her parents death. The
once stately squire. his father, had grown
quite infrm and his mothers dark hair
was thickly threaded with silver. But
here was no change in the loving hearts
which welcomed his return.
Among other Of his invitations came one
rom his cousin Blanche. Her husband
nsd 40 estate where there WAS excellent
hunting and fishing. Would he join them
In the sutumn2
Gerald concluded TO 60. Weeks rolled
on and brought the appointed time.
cousin Gerald" said Blanche, II e1-
pect you will help Hugh to make things
pleasant for my young lady guests. am
anxious that Miss Glyndon
should enjoy herself, for she has refused
A. |
of Strathern. TO come to me. She was
he belle OF the season in London lsst
winter. Everyone is raying about her
"And do you mean to say. Blanche, that
rour are villiully about to expose me to
'uch dangerous fAscinstionf' asked Ger
I'D 10 mock seriousness "Well. I'll do
ny best TO please you; but bellies are no.
II all TO my tastes.